The Origin of Mission to Burma
Dr. Banfe is deeply burdened for the people of the Golden Land, the land of Adoniram Judson, steeped in idolatry and animism. While a Dean at the Crown College of the Bible, the Lord introduced Dr. Banfe to the Burmese people. Dr. Banfe began traveling to Asia at the age of 17 while working for his family business, traveling to Hong Kong, Japan, Thailand, and the Philippines numerous times. Dr. Banfe spent many years studying and teaching Asian culture, having published numerous articles on the subject. He has also preached and taught in Burma and is currently in contact with many pastors there, working on numerous projects.
His burden has led him to intensively study the language and the culture of the people of Burma. Dr. Banfe is particularly burdened to plant churches and evangelize Burma. He has a particular love for the children of Burma. Many are orphaned by disease and ethnic violence, others fleeing their tribal lands due to clashes between government forces and or rival military groups. But most face little hope for the future lacking adequate education and imprisoned in the idolatry of Buddhism.
Churches are not started by building buildings but by training shepherds to gather sheep. Dr. Banfe is burdened to teach these children the Word of God and prepare the next generation of church planters, pastors, evangelists, Christian teachers and missionaries. He is also burdened to train existing pastors and giving them the doctrinal tools necessary to effectively lead their churches.
There are 53 million people in Burma and Burma is one of the least developed and most repressive countries in the world. With almost 89% of the people of Burma being Buddhist, at least 47 million people need the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are literally millions of people with no hope, and so many tribes and people groups who have never once heard the gospel of Jesus Christ our Lord or even seen a Bible. As Paul wrote in Romans 15:
“Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.” (Romans 15:20-21)
From 1962 to 2011 the country was ruled by a military junta, that suppressed almost all dissent and wielded absolute power and all missionaries were ejected from the country, as the Word of God became silent, except through hushed voices of the faithful few. Pastors were beaten with rods, fingers cut off, imprisoned, houses burned. It was a dark time in a dark land shackled by idolatry.
But a beam of light has opened as the country’s leaders had slightly loosened their grip. There is an amazing opportunity in the Golden Land in that there are still many people groups who have not heard the Gospel Jesus Christ even one time! And there are precious children who it is our responsibility to make certain they have the same chance to hear of His amazing gift, His good news.
Mission to Burma is already
- finding a location on Thai/Burmese border for an English school through the Bible for adults and children and eventually a church.
- beginning the process of trying to set up a Thai charitable foundation which will give them legal protections as they build this work
- reaching the youth with youth conferences (in the near future)
- building Internet Radio station MTB (Mission to Burma) to beam the Gospel message and Bible lessons across Burma
- training pastors by holding pastor’s conferences and writing and distributing materials on the doctrines of the Christian faith
- mentoring indigenous pastors
- printing and distributing tracts and Bibles, and books on Doctrine
Will you please yoke together with us to serve our Lord Jesus in the Golden Land?